CASE REPORT CASE REPORT 46 SA JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY • June 2010 CASE REPORT First RSSA short course on Current Ethical Issues in Radiology: 23 January 2010 (continued from page 36) arrangements that create a potential or real conflict of interest in the maintenance of professional autonomy and independence can be considered as a perverse incentive. Any conflicts of interest, incentives or forms of inducement that threaten such autonomy, independence or commitment to the appropriate professional and ethical rules and policies or that do not accord first priority to the clinical needs of patients, are unacceptable. It is unethical for a health care practitioner to: • refer patients to a facility or for a procedure in which he/she has a financial interest (excepting private hospitals) • share fees with any person who has not taken a commensurate part in the service provided • allow a person (natural or juristic) who does not otherwise qualify as a partner or shareholder to share in the profits or income of a professional practice. The RSSA will continue to discourage any form of perverse incentives and kick-backs by its members, and will report any cases where sufficient evidence is available. Cases and actions taken by the RSSA in instances of suspected kick-backs and perverse incentives were discussed by Ms Esme Prins-Van den Berg, attorney at law and director of Benguela Health. What might have commenced as an effort to keep CPD ethics points updated, developed into an interesting meeting which exceeded the audience’s expectations, the vast majority of whom initially saw it as a necessary sacrifice of a beautiful Saturday! There has been wide, very positive feedback. The course will be repeated in Johannesburg later this year. Details may be found at http://www.rssa2010ethics.co.za. Congratulations to Professor Leon Janse van Rensburg who once again arranged an excellent course; to Nelda Rousseau and Mari Horn from Consultus for the organisation, to Covidien for an educational grant, and to Discovery Health for administering the CPD certificates. Another ‘first’ is the RSSA/SGR (Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists) gastrointestinal radiology course to be held on 7 - 9 August 2010 at the Spier Estate a few kilometres outside Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. The long weekend of 7 - 9 August was chosen to allow more delegates the opportunity to attend. After more than 18 months of review and planning by members of both societies, the 2010 GIT Radiology course was established to meet the important challenges of advancing GIT imaging. The course offers an extremely well-balanced and full programme, presented by an international faculty of 8 leading and acclaimed academics. They will address a wide variety of topics important to daily practice as well as the basics of techniques such as double contrast radiography and molecular imaging advances. Central to the course is the role and application of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). A course of this nature is essential and long overdue for all South African and African radiologists and should not be missed. International colleagues and clinical specialists as well as diagnostic radiographers will also attend.The course is designed for the general radiologist as well as those with a special interest in GIT and abdominal radiology. Details are on the website www.rssa.co.za. RSSA/Stoller Sports Medicine: Cape Town The exclusive RSSA/Stoller Update Sports Medicine was held at the BMW Pavilion in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town last March. Professor Leon Janse van Rensburg achieved the near-incredible: firstly, in getting Dr David Stoller (MD, FACR), the internationally renowned San Francisco musculoskeletal radiologist, to agree to lecture outside the USA, and secondly, in actually getting Dr Stoller to Cape Town despite high drama and acute stress initiated by the British Airways strike – the start had to be rescheduled to accommodate the arrival of the BA flight. VIP rapid transit from the aircraft to the venue was arranged with assistance from ACSA, and Professor Janse van Rensburg and Dr Stoller arrived with 30 seconds to spare. Dr Stoller is an impressive musculoskeletal radiologist and excellent teacher and, despite the demanding programme, was able to infuse the audience with his infectious enthusiasm for musculoskeletal imaging and impress with his detailed structured technique for evaluating MRI scans of the joints. The entire first day was dominated by the shoulder and knee, with emphasis on the correct imaging technique and his checklist approach to assessing relevant structures in each of the planes. This is a unique approach that significantly improves musculoskeletal MRI interpretation. As the only speaker, Dr Stoller was able to modify his presentation to ensure that all the material was covered and that audience requests for a recap of several areas could be met. Easy switching between more didactic slides and demonstration of analyses of actual workstation cases enhanced the learning experience. Dr Graeme Thompson was the volunteer who found himself on stage at the laptop, analysing a full shoulder case in front of an audience of 300 with Dr Stoller looking over his shoulder. All credit to Graeme for acquitting RADIOACTIVE NEWS RADIOACTIVE NEWS From left to right: Professor Leon Janse van Rensburg (RSSA), Dr David Stoller (San Francisco) and Mr Graham Maritz (CEO, Siemens). (Photo: Dr Hein Els, TBH) CASE REPORTCASE REPORT 47 SA JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY • June 2010 himself exceptionally well and keeping the local flag flying high. The remainder of the second day was devoted to the elbow, wrist, hip and ankle. Fears that the tough schedule and jetlag might take their toll were unfounded, and Dr Stoller showed a relaxed side, treating the audience to his sense of humour, a glimpse of philosophy, and an unexpected clip of the young Jack Nicholson doing things his way! After less than 36 hours in the country, Dr Stoller flew home, no doubt exhausted and relieved that two gruelling days were over. Certainly, the audience appreciated the opportunity to have been enlightened by this leading expert and hoped that, should he venture to South Africa again, it would be a more relaxed visit with time to see something of the country. Thanks to Siemens and Bayer Healthcare for their generosity in making the event possible, to Christelle Snyman and the Consultus team for the seamless organisation, and the BMW pavilion management for their contribution. The timing of this congress with South Africa about to host the World Cup and the venue in close proximity to the stadium were appropriate. The South African Musculoskeletal Imaging Group (SAMSIG) is hosting a Musculoskeletal Congress in Botswana from 4 - 8 October 2010 (http://www.samsig.co.za). The site can also be accessed via a link in the RSSA website. RSSA/Leuven Ear Imaging Course: Stellenbosch Dr Judy Ross attended the RSSA/Leuven Ear Imaging Course conducted by internationally renowned Belgium and Dutch radiologists on 16 - 18 April at Spier Estate, Stellenbosch, and commented as follows: I would like to commend the organisers for a brilliant conference which achieved the highest academic standards, focusing on the temporal bone and ear. The lectures were excellent and the interactive teaching sessions with reviews of clinical cases were outstanding. All congress attendants were provided with their own computer for the duration of the congress, with the ability to view and reformat all case-related images, and direct feedback was provided by the relevant clinicians. The programme schedule was strictly adhered to but there was otherwise a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere in beautiful surroundings with all the frills but no fuss. A special commendation must go to the convener Professor Leon Janse van Rensburg. I have attended many overseas conferences but none can actually equate with this event. RADIOACTIVE NEWS Professor Zarina Lockhat and Dr David Stoller (Photo: Dr Hein Els, TBH) Professor Zarina Lockhat of Pretoria welcomes Dr Stoller. (Photo: Dr Hein Els, TBH) Interactive teaching workshop with faculty members assisting delegates. (Photo: Dr Hein Els, TBH) From left to right: Dr Herve Tanghe(Rotterdam), Dr Marc Lemmerling(Ghent), Professor Robert Hermans (Leuven), Professor Leon J van Rensburg( RSSA), Dr Berit Verbist( Leiden). (Photo: Dr Hein Els, TBH)